NoteWorthy Composer Forum

Forums => Tips & Tricks => Topic started by: Tavish Donahue on 2002-05-03 01:50 pm

Title: Transposing - Playing Music Written for a non C Instrument
Post by: Tavish Donahue on 2002-05-03 01:50 pm
Suppose you have music written for an E flat alto saxophone which you wish to play using NoteWorthy Composer (NWC). Enter the music as written in NWC. Play it with NWC and play along on the sax and incorrect sound results. A C-note on the alto saxophone plays as E flat on the concert (piano) scale. Sound cards (and thus NWC) use concert scale unless instructed otherwise. To instruct NWC otherwise:

The notes on the staff will not have moved. However, when you click Play, a C-note will be played as an alto sax C, or a concert E flat. The written music will be for alto sax and the notes played by NWC will be for alto sax. Success.

Success---Until a non E flat instrument shows up:

The visible notes will have moved. Play and the tones will match for:

The pianist will complain that the key is wrong. Insert the key signature equal to the value of the first note and audit the accidentals. Viola, total success. Procedure for other non c instrument music will be similar.

Key facts:
Title: Re: Transposing - Playing Music Written for a non C Instrument
Post by: NoteWorthy Online on 2002-05-03 01:51 pm
Editor's Note: For more procedures related to the above, see the answers to What is the procedure to change notes to a new clef? (http://www.noteworthysoftware.com/composer/faq.htm#NewClef) and Is there an easy way to change the key of a song? (http://www.noteworthysoftware.com/composer/faq.htm#ChangeKey) in our FAQ section.